Jeff Crowe to complete half-century in Tests as Match Referee

Dubai, April 6 (IANS) Former New Zealand captain Jeff Crowe will become the fifth International Cricket Council (ICC) Match Referee to complete a half-century of Tests.

Crowe will achieve the milestone Saturday when he takes the field for the coin toss in Bridgetown for the first Test between the West Indies and Australia.

Crowe made his Test debut as a Match Referee in October 2004 - seven months after being included in the elite panel - in a Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Faisalabad. And after eight years and at the age of 53, he stands as the fifth most experienced match referee overall after Ranjan Madugalle (134), Clive Lloyd (53), Chris Broad (51) and John Reid (50).

Crowe has also stood in 165 ODIs which makes him the fourth most experienced referee behind Madugalle (265), Broad (202) and Roshan Mahanama (179). With 29 T20Is under his belt, he is the third most experienced referee in the arena after Madugalle (46) and Broad (42).

As an international player for New Zealand, Crowe played in 39 Tests, six as captain, and 75 ODIs between 1983 and 1990. He scored 1,601 runs in Tests and 1,518 runs in ODIs.

Reflecting on his achievement, Crowe said: 'I am very fortunate to be in an exclusive club of people who have done 50 or more Tests as a match referee.'

'In reaching this milestone the support and cooperation has been significant from my family, the respected colleagues in the international and elite panel of match officials and the fine people at the ICC. It remains a thrill to be able to continue working alongside all in the modern game.'

'Jeff is a very experienced, professional and well-respected ICC match referee, and we are delighted to celebrate with him, his officiating of his 50th Test match,' said ICC umpire and referee manager, Vince van der Bijl.

'He played, captained and managed the New Zealand cricket team, and that cricketing knowledge and love of the game underpins his refereeing and his desire to see cricket played in Great Spirit.

'His calm and unruffled manner belies his committed and meticulous preparation and approach to officiating. We thank him for his dedication to cricket'

Match referees (span) Tests

Ranjan Madugalle (1993-to date) 134

Clive Lloyd (1992-2006) 53

Chris Broad (2002-to date) 51

John Reid (1993-2002) 50

Jeff Crowe (2004-to date) 50

Mike Procter (2002-2008) 47

Alan Hurst (2004-2011) 45

Cammie Smith (1993-2002) 42

R Subba Row (1992-2001) 41

Roshan Mahanama (2004-to date) 35